Starla Kaye's Blog, page 16

Sara Walter Ellwood – A Moving Target

My special guest author today is Sara Walter Ellwood and I’m excited to have her here. She is promoting Book 3 in her Colton Gamblers Series: GAMBLING ON A DREAM.

I envy historical authors for one reason.

They can set their stories in a time period and don’t ever have to worry about the events / styles / technology in their stories from ever becoming “dated.” I have a friend who is republishing some of her older contemporary romances, but before she does, she’s updating technology like switching flip phones for smart phones.

For me being a contemporary author is like trying to hit a moving target. By the time a book is written, edited, and put on a release schedule, the story may already be “old.” For example, when I wrote Gambling On A Secret in 2009, I had set it in 2010. When I was looking for a publisher, I updated the story calendar to 2011and eventually contracted it in 2012. Which is fine, but this was the first book of a five book series, with all the books set to follow each other in the same year.

Gambling On A Secret covers March to August 2011. Although Gambling On A Heart (book 2 of Colton Gamblers) is written to immediately follow book 1 during August and September, I have it set in the 2012 calendar. Gambling On A Dream, which picks up the story in October, was set using the 2013 calendar. I chose to use the year I wrote the book in as the timeframe of the story to help keep it seem current. I laugh when I think about Charli (the heroine from book 1) having the longest pregnancy in history. But to be honest, I have no idea how else to keep these stories “Contemporaries.”

I’ve read several series that are chronologically set after each other, but take several actual years to tell the story. The one that immediately comes to mind is JR Ward’s bestselling paranormal series, The Blackdagger Brotherhood. I think overall she did a great job keeping the books seamlessly connected but subtly matching the real world calendar with her story calendar. But Ms. Ward is working in a fantasy world where if events are fudged a little no one would probably call her out on it.

I write stories very much rooted in the real world. Two of my heroes and the heroine in book 4 are veterans of the Middle East wars. Although I’ve learned to not mention events that actually happened in my books, further dating them, some of this can’t be completely avoided.

Researching a historical would be a pain in the behind, but I’d love not always having the moving target of time to contend with and trying to make my books current without sacrificing the story I set out to tell.

If you read a chronological series that takes several years to write and publish, do you ever notice the fudging of time?

And if you’re an author, how do you handle this sort of thing?

GAMBLING ON A DREAM – By Sara Walter Ellwood

Colton Gamblers Book 3

BUY LINKS:   Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Kobo

 

 

BLURB – Gambling on a Dream – By Sara Walter Ellwood

With Everything At Stake…

It’s been years since Sheriff Dawn Madison said goodbye to Texas Ranger Wyatt McPherson. She’s closed the door on the heartache of her past. But when the sleepy town of Colton, Texas, is rocked by a series of shocking murders, Dawn has no choice but to trust the man who broke her heart if she wants to protect the ones she loves…

All Bets Are Off

Four years have passed. But Wyatt hasn’t forgotten the bold, Native American beauty who stole his heart . . . and broke it. Losing her and the life they had hoped to share left him an empty shell of himself. But if he wants to stop the deranged killer terrorizing the innocent kids of Colton, he’ll have to let Dawn back into his life. It’s a risk he’s willing to take, even if heartache is all he takes home…

EXCERPT

When the door closed with a resounding click behind her brother, Dawn pounded a fist onto the table with enough force to rattle their coffee mugs. “Dammit, who is he protecting?”

Wyatt glanced back at the door. Her older brother Talon had always had it rough, but no worse than Dawn and their younger brother. Sure, being one of Jock Blackwell’s ill-begotten sons wasn’t something he’d wish on a rabid coyote. However, Tom Madison had treated Talon like a son all his life, even giving him a third of his ranch when he retired.

Talon had changed, and not for the better. His problems didn’t come from how he was raised, or even the occasional bullying. He was a troublemaker, and nothing would have changed him.

He sat in the chair Talon had vacated. “Or the question could be what is he hiding?”

She ran her hands over her dark hair to the tight bun at the base of her skull. With jerky movements, she pulled out the band holding the twisted braid captive. As she ran her fingers through the long mass of raven silk, heat coursed through him at the memories of all that hair covering him like a blanket while they’d made love. When she bent over the table and scratched her scalp in pure frustration, all he could think about was her hair hanging down her back to brush and tickle his thighs as she rode him–her favorite position–to orgasm.

The erection was fast and furious and nearly had him groaning. Thank God, he was sitting. He forced his numbed mind to focus on the case.

“We have to find someone else who may have seen or knows something.” She glanced across the table at him and straightened. If there was ever the perfect picture of a beautiful Indian maiden, it was Dawn with her hair down. Had she ever had the stuff cut? He swallowed hard and shifted in his chair as his jeans strangled his cock. How long had it been since he’d had sex? He couldn’t remember, but refused to believe he hadn’t been with someone since Dawn.

With swift, practiced motions, she broke the trance he was under by daftly braiding her hair and wrapping it into a bagel-sized knot at the back of her head. She snapped the hair band over the bun.

He cleared his throat. “When are we talking to Chris’s friends?” His voice came out sounding a bit husky, even to his ears.

She stood, taking their coffee cups with her, and refilled them. After she dumped that god-awful crap pretending to be creamer into hers, she handed him a mug of black joe. Sipping her coffee from the extra-large, bright green mug he’d given to her for her thirtieth birthday, she returned to her chair.

“Hendricks and Kennedy are getting a list, but according to Julie, he didn’t have many friends in Colton.”

“How about Justin Vaughn? He’s always been a known dealer. Maybe he knows something.” He sipped his coffee.

She smiled, and he almost choked as he swallowed the hot, bitter brew. “Haven’t thought of him. We should talk to him. They’re about the same age. Vaughn’s working over at his uncle’s farm and garden market.”

He set his mug on the table and glanced at his watch. “I can’t today.”

“Hot date?”

Grinning, he stood. “No. I’m buying the Estrada Ranch.”

Her dark eyes widened. “Really? I heard Luis and Stella were thinking of moving to New Mexico, but I didn’t know it was a done deal. I figured it would go to either Jose or Mary,” she said, referring to the Estradas’ son and daughter. “How long has their place been up for sale? I haven’t seen a sign in their yard.”

He shrugged and reached for his hat where it sat on the edge of the table. “Luis and Stella told Mom and Dad they planned to sell the place a couple of weeks ago while playing Bingo at the firehouse. When they told me, I called the Estradas and made an offer. It never officially made it on the market. I’ve been looking for a small ranch.”

“We’ll be neighbors when you settle in there.” She cocked her head to the side. “I never knew you wanted to be a rancher.”

“You never cared about a lot of things I wanted.” His bitterness surprised even him.

She stood and picked up her mug, leaving his where it sat. As she headed for the door, she nodded toward it. “We have a policy around here. We clean up after ourselves. Something I seem to remember you have a hard time with.”

 

ABOUT SARA WALTER ELLWOOD

Although Sara Walter Ellwood has long ago left the farm for the glamor of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her contemporary westerns. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia. Sara Walter Ellwood is a multi-published and international Amazon bestselling author of the anthology set Cowboy Up. She also publishes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.

FIND HER AT:

Website     Blog     Facebook     Twitter     Goodreads

The post Sara Walter Ellwood – A Moving Target appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Crying – Don’t panic!

I write romantic stories which involve emotions, including women occasionally crying. Most men, including my heroes, look at a woman crying and get panicky. Did they do something wrong? Can they help her? Should they flee for their lives? Sometimes my men are the reason for their woman’s tears. And they always comfort the woman they love…or attempt to anyway.

 

 

Benefits of crying

Crying helps get rid of stress hormones

Crying can brings the person closer to other  people (family, friends, husbands/lovers)

What makes a woman cry?

Hormones: Those crazy little devils inside a female body get to women at different times, more so during that phase of the month around the time of her period. The emotions can be all over the place, making crying impossible to stop.

Tear-Jerker Movies: A woman tends to become involved in the movie, particularly with certain characters. She cries because she’s happy about something happening to the character. Or crying is a reaction to something sad or tragic that happened.

Worry and Tension: A woman gets caught up in everything happening around her and in her life. Concerned about herself, her job, her husband/lover, her family and her friends can lead to bouts of crying.

Acts of Kindness: Women get touched emotionally by a gift received for no real reason, or an unexpected compliment. They can get misty eyed from receiving a card, a gift from a loved one, or even by getting an email or text with something said that touches their heart. This is happy crying.

Weddings: The act of witnessing a wedding can trigger tears. Women get emotional about the repeating of vows or the sharing of special vows written between the loving couple. Seeing your daughter going from your care into the care of whoever she is marrying can bring on a crying spell.

Saying Goodbye: There are so many times in life when we say goodbye to someone: going away for whatever length of time, moving away to start a new life, leaving a job and work friends, seeing a military family member or friend deploying. Crying is common during grieving at someone dying or after their passing.

Showing Anger: Sometimes a woman gets so upset in an argument that she cries. Or something happens to a child, a mate, or a friend and she cries in frustration, defense, or pure anger.

Remembering: A woman gets emotional thinking about something that happened in the past, good or bad. A crying session can happen when she sits and looks at old photos of family or friends. The memories are so touching.

Broken Heart: Love can be such an emotional thing for a woman that crying happens. The ups and the downs, the arguments and the making up. The discovery of special feelings for someone; the hurt when the feelings aren’t returned.

SOURCES:

Top 10 Things that make Women Cry – http://listcrux.com/top-10-things-make-women-cry/

Why Women Cry (And Should!) – http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/good-to-cry

 

HER COWBOY’S WAY – By Starla Kaye

The post Crying – Don’t panic! appeared first on Starla Kaye.

P.J. MacLayne and Her Ladyship’s Ring

I’m happy to have P. J. MacLayne here today on my blog. She is here talking about HER LADYSHIP’S RING, which is the second book in her Oak Grove Mysteries.

Harmony Duprie, the main character in the mysteries, has agreed to do an interview with us. Read it and enjoy….then, of course, buy the book, HER LADYSHIP’S RING.

Can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

I have a Masters in Library Science, and am currently working as a researcher for a group of writers. I like fast cars, although I know just the basics of maintaining them—my father taught me. I’m a big James Bond fan, both the books and the movies. . Oh, and my goal is to have a first edition print of all the Ian Fleming James Bond novels. I’m still looking for a copy of Moonraker that’s in good condition and reasonably priced. If it’s signed by Fleming, that’s even better.

What are a couple of random thoughts about yourself that will surprise the reader?

When I was in high school, I collected comic books. None of them were very valuable and I’ve traded or given them away. Now I have a small collection of graphic novels to go along with my collection of first-edition books. It’s my secret vice.

Another thing that might surprise people is that I have a tattoo on my left shoulder. It’s a dollar sign intertwined with daisies. I got it as a tribute to my parents who died way too soon.

What makes you blush?

Compliments, from either men or women. Even if they are deserved, they make me uncomfortable. I’m a private person and don’t like to draw attention to myself.

What upset your ordinary world and brought you into contact with Eli?

Long story. It started with getting arrested along with my ex-boyfriend for drug trafficking. The charge was bogus and didn’t hold up in court, thank heavens. But that set the wheels in motion for me to meet Eli.

What was your immediate reaction to each other?

I have no idea what Eli’s first reaction to me was because he’d been keeping an eye on me at the request of his cousin for some time before we actually met. And frankly, I wasn’t sure he wasn’t my imagination the first time I bumped into him—literally. But I’m a very “grounded” person, so I just checked it off as an interesting incident and didn’t place too much importance on our meeting. It took me being kidnapped and him rescuing me to really get things rolling. Although the roses he’d leave me occasionally didn’t hurt.

What do you think about “love and romance”?

I’m a practical person and don’t think about it too much. Sure, I like to read a good “trashy” romance novel as much as the next woman, but I never expected to find that kind of romance in my own life. I loved Jake, but didn’t expect him to change his life for me, which meant he was gone a lot. But when he was around, we had a good time together.

It’s tougher with Eli. The whole long-distance relationship is rough. There’s only so much that phone calls and Skyping can do to fill in the void of his absence. I’m not sure it will work out in the long run, so I’m trying not to get suckered into the “soulmate” routine. And we’ve avoided discussing the issue, so I’m not sure how he feels about it.

Who took the first step in heating things up between you?

I did. And I got shut down. Hard. Well, it seemed that way to me. I didn’t know how to make it any more obvious to Eli that I was interested in him, and he kept pretending he didn’t notice. Come to find out, he was afraid I wasn’t over my last boyfriend yet. Which happened to be his cousin.

Would you rather be caught in a wild moment of passion or tied down and taken?

Definitely a wild moment of passion. Especially since my abduction. Once you’ve been tied up and threatened and your life has hung in the balance, it’s hard to turn the concept of being tied up into a fantasy. Besides, I prefer to give as much as I take when it comes to the sexual matters.

What is the kinkiest sexual thing you’ve ever done?

I’m pretty vanilla. But I suppose sex on the dining room table counts as kinky, right?

Who made the first compromise in your relationship?

He did, I guess. And that was even before we really had a relationship. How many guys do you know that would be willing to drop everything and fly a thousand miles to rescue a woman that he hadn’t even kissed yet?

Thank you so much, Harmony, for sharing some interesting information you and Eli. I loved the part about him giving you roses occasionally. Oh, and him dropping everything to come rescue you.

 

HER LADYSHIP’S RING, Book 2 in now available at:

Amazon    Barnes & Noble     iTune Apple     Kobo

 

 

 

 

BLURB – Her Ladyship’s Ring

Harmony Duprie is back, and so is trouble in Oak Grove.

When a man is murdered in the back yard of the old Victorian house she is remodeling, Harmony is determined to locate his next-of-kin so he can be put to rest properly. But with her ex-boyfriend Jake out of prison, back in town and one of the suspects in the murder, she takes on the challenge of solving the crime.

With Eli, her current love interest, in Florida and Jake close by, old emotions come back to haunt her. Can Harmony clear Jake’s name and solve the mystery of her own heart?

EXCERPT – Her Ladyship’s Ring

The first thing I noticed when walking into my apartment was the afghan I kept on the back of the recliner. It was on the floor and hadn’t been like that when I left. “So who’s been sitting in my chair?” I asked. “Eli?” I called hopefully to no response.

Then I noticed the dirty dishes in my kitchen sink. “So who’s been eating my porridge?” I whispered to myself. Surely a thief wouldn’t have stopped to make himself a sandwich.

I tip-toed down the hallway, holding my breath. The bathroom was empty, but my bedroom door was partially closed. I carefully pushed it open and peeked inside. A familiar head nestled on my pillow. “So that’s who’s been sleeping in my bed.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, P.J. MacLayne still finds inspiration for her books in landscapes. She is a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When she’s not in front of a computer screen, she might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks.

 

 

WHERE TO FIND THE AUTHOR

Facebook     Twitter     Google+     Blog

The post P.J. MacLayne and Her Ladyship’s Ring appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Lisabet Sarai Talks About Plausible Enchantment

Lisabet Sarai is spotlighted today on my blog with her new book THE EYES OF BAST, from Totally Bound. She is sharing her thoughts on soul mates.

The notion of finding one’s soul mate—the one individual in the universe whom you’re destined to love—is a favorite romance trope. I can understand the appeal of this concept. It’s both reassuring and thrilling to imagine a lover perfectly attuned to your needs, your ideal complement and companion, a person who makes you whole and vice versa.

I find it hard to write stories about soul mates, though. I’m always aware that reality is much messier than romantic fantasy. Mostly I create contemporary stories where the relationships are realistically complicated. My heroines are frequently unsure about their own feelings. Sometimes they’re attracted to more than one person, in different ways. That’s one reason my back list contains so many ménage tales, I think, to save my heroines from having to choose who to love!

But paranormal romance frees me from the constraints of realism. In a world infused with magic, I can suspend disbelief about forever-after perfect matings. Magic imposes structure and symmetry on the tale. Perfect love may be kindled by enchantment, or may reflect age-old connections. Old souls, old lovers, may meet again in a new life. A quest, a struggle against evil forces, may bind two characters together for eternity.

In paranormal erotic romance, you can recognize your soul mate by the transcendent and irrational lust he inspires. That’s certainly true in my most recent release, The Eyes of Bast. The instant Tom touches her, Shaina is overcome by irresistible desire. The connection is instantaneous, taking over both her body and her heart.

I don’t explain why Tom and Shaina are soul mates. I don’t need to. It’s obvious that magic is involved. They are under one another’s spell, an enchantment that can’t be broken. That’s enough to allow me, and hopefully my readers, to believe that these two belong together.

Genre: Paranormal romance, erotic, shape shifter

CONTEST:

This post is part of my blog tour for The Eyes of Bast. Totally Bound has a giveaway on their website in conjunction with the tour. Just to sweeten the pot, I’m adding a couple of other prizes. Leave a comment with your email and you could win this statue of Bastet from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Or if you’d prefer, I’ll send you a brace of other stories that feature magical lust: Hot Spell and Rough Weather.

 

 

BLURB: The Eyes of Bast

Trust your heart. Follow your dreams.

Shaina Williams’ grandmother bequeathed her that wisdom, along with a old pendant from the Islands, carved from an ocelot’s tooth. When instinct tells Shaina to visit the feral cat trap she’d set in Central Park, she listens to that inner voice, She discovers she’s caged a magnificent black tom, but the cat inexplicably vanishes after she tends to his wounds. Seeking the errant feline, Shaina encounters instead a handsome stranger whose slightest touch sets her body on fire. As the day dawns after a night of ferocious passion, her mysterious lover is forced back into his true shape—the tomcat she’d rescued.

Born a cat, Tom was transformed into an unwilling shape shifter by a sorceress who craved a human plaything to satisfy her perverse lusts. Centuries old and irresistibly powerful, Delphine Montserrat will stop at nothing to find her runaway familiar. Shaina vows to do whatever is necessary to defeat the vicious but seductive witch and save the man she believes is her soul mate— even though it might mean losing him forever.

 

BUY LINKS:  Totally Bound     All Romance eBooks     Amazon-US     Amazon-UK     Barnes & Noble

Kobo     Goodreads

 

R EXCERPT: The Eyes of Bast

I found my apartment door locked. Had Tom not returned yet? The studio was dark, all the lights out and the blinds drawn as I’d left them. “Tom?” My voice was hoarse with fear. She found him. She’s caught him.

A man-shaped shadow rose from the chair near the window. “Shaina! Thank the gods you’re safe!” In an instant, he had wrapped me in his strong arms and buried his face in my hair. Peace and comfort flooded in, washing away my worry and uncertainty. This was where I belonged.

Unerring even in the darkness, his lips found mine. I opened automatically, drinking in his sweet, wild flavor. He smelled of smoke and earth, crisp nights and growing things. The tension that had sustained me through my encounter with the sorceress vanished, so that for a moment I felt limp and weak. Taking advantage of my lassitude, he drew me closer, until the rigid bulk in his trousers settled between my thighs and made me gasp. As he boldly probed my mouth, he let his hands roam over my hips to my ass. Cupping my ample flesh, he pulled me tighter still.

Fierce need swept through me like a forest fire. I threaded my fingers into his wiry curls and took over the kiss, sucking his tongue into my mouth, gnawing on his lips, devouring him. With a growl, he sank his fingernails into my butt—I could feel the bite even through my jeans—and ground his erection against me. The friction kindled sparks in my swollen clit. They shot through me, lighting up my body like fireworks.

His muscles shifted like bands of steel under his shirt, under my hands. My fingers itched to feel his nakedness. At the same time, I was unwilling to release my hold on him so that we could get undressed. Desperate with desire, clutching and writhing, we rocked against one another like boats caught in a storm.

“Now,” he groaned into my mouth. “I want you now!”

We managed to separate long enough to tear off our clothes. Tom seized me around the waist and dragged me to the floor. He flipped me onto my stomach as though I weighed nothing then grabbed my hips to haul me up to my hands and knees. His nails dug stinging crescents into my bare ass and his coarse pubic hair scratched the back of my thighs.

“Tom…?” I peered over my shoulder at his looming figure. His roughness both thrilled and scared me. He was so much stronger than I was. I could never fight him off.

But why was I thinking about fighting? I wanted everything he had to give me.

 

ABOUT LISABET

Lisabet Sarai became addicted to words at an early age. She began reading when she was four. She wrote her first story at five years old and her first poem at seven. Since then, she has written plays, tutorials, scholarly articles, marketing brochures, software specifications, self-help books, press releases, a five-hundred page dissertation, and lots of erotica and erotic romance – more than fifty single author titles, plus dozens of short stories in various erotic anthologies, including the Lambda winner Where the Girls Are and the IPPIE Best Erotic Book of 2011, Carnal Machines. Her gay scifi erotic romance Quarantine won a Rainbow Awards 2012 Honorable Mention.

Lisabet has more degrees than anyone would ever need, from prestigious educational institutions who would no doubt be deeply embarrassed by her chosen genre. She has traveled widely and currently lives in Southeast Asia with her indulgent husband and two exceptional felines, where she pursues an alternative career that is completely unrelated to her creative writing.

For more information about Lisabet and her writing, visit her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com) or her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com). She also hangs out at the group blog Oh Get a Grip (http://ohgetagrip.blogspot.com), writes monthly reviews for Erotica Revealed (http://www.eroticarevealed.com) and contributes to the ERWA blog (http://erotica-readers.blogspot.com).

The post Lisabet Sarai Talks About Plausible Enchantment appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Amanda C. Stone – Guest author

Today I am welcoming Amanda C. Stone to my blog with her m/m novella THE ADVENTURES OF COLE AND PERRY.

To start things off, Cole has chosen to share a bit about himself.

Good morning everyone! My name is Cole and I’m so glad that I was given the chance to stop by Starla’s blog for an interview. Thanks for having me here.

Can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

Sure can. My name is Cole and I like long walks on the beach. WAIT! Just kidding. While beaches are nice, I mainly enjoy reading my car magazines when I’m not working on cars. Of course I love spending time with my husband Perry, but that’s a given.

What are a couple of random thoughts about yourself that will surprise the readers?

Shoes. I absolutely love shoes and own more pairs than most guys. Perry jokes about how many I have sometimes, but I know he’s not really making fun of me about them. I think he’s secretly jealous of my fabulous collection and can legitimately say I wear them all.

What makes you blush?

Perry does. He knows exactly what to say and do to make my face go hot. When gets all growly and takes control. Wait, is it hot in here to you too? *fans self*

What upset your ordinary world and brought you into contact with each other?

I met Perry in a bar. He sat down next to me and used the cheesiest pick up line ever. We had a good laugh and then started talking.

What was your immediate reaction to each other?

I thought Perry was the hottest guy in the bar when I first saw him. I also didn’t think he’d be interested in more than a bathroom hook up. Boy was I mistaken!

Would you rather be caught in a wild moment of passion or tied down and taken?

Perry can tie me down and take me any day he wants!

What is the kinkiest sexual thing you’ve ever done?

When we had a third for a little ménage fun. That was definitely kinky and exciting.

Thanks for sharing with us, Cole. You sound like an interesting guy. And it sounds like you two are good together.

 

BLURB – The Adventures of Cole and Perry by Amanda C. Stone

It all started when Cole met Perry in a bar. Over three years they had some exciting adventures, and misadventures. The six stories included in this book are all about their journey from bar to wedding.

The Anniversary

Another cancellation of plans by his boyfriend forces Cole out to the neighborhood bar. Not long after arriving he meets Perry. Even as exciting as Perry is, he’s unsure how the night will end.

The Fight

Cole and Perry are struggling to make time for each other and constantly at each other’s throats. A fight to the death will decide who is right or wrong in their arguments. But Cole really doesn’t want to shoot Perry.

The Threesome

Deciding they want to spice up things in the bedroom, Perry wants to have a one-time threesome. Cole’s nervous and doesn’t want to ask any of their friends to join them. Perry finds the perfect solution.

The House

After two and a half years together, Cole and Perry want to buy a house. Once they find the perfect house, they get to spend their first morning together in their new space. Perry will have to help Cole decide which room is his favorite.

The Baby

Both Cole and Perry are exhausted. Taking care of a three month old is hard when she’s up all night and is always hungry. If only they could find where they put the bottle warmer.

The Wedding

Cole is ready to make his commitment to Perry life-long. After careful planning, they created the perfect event. What could possibly go wrong? If only Cole didn’t ask the same question.

BUY LINKS:   Amazon     All Romance eBooks

 

EXCERPT – The Adventures of Cole and Perry by Amanda C. Stone

“Cole. I have a surprise for you. I want you to close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to open them.”

Cole looked up from his magazine at the doorway Perry’s voice drifted in from. He put the magazine on his nightstand and closed his eyes.

“They’re closed,” he called out. He wasn’t sure where Perry was in their apartment, but he sounded close.

Rustling and a strange squeaking noise reached his ears. Cole furrowed his brows trying to figure out what Perry was up to and what he was hearing.

“Okay. Go ahead and open your eyes.”

Cole popped his eyes open. He closed them and then re-opened them again. Nope, he still was seeing what was in front of him.

“Perry. Why is there–?”

Perry cut him off before Cole could finish his thought.

“So, we had talked about fantasies and things like that. I told you this was mine. So I’d like to introduce you to Freddy. Freddy, I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriend, Cole.”

Cole smiled at how nervous Perry was. His boyfriend was adorable trying to be brave with his ideas.

“Nice to meet you, um, Freddy. Perry, where did you meet Freddy?”

Perry had a small smile on his face that showed Cole he appreciated he was alright with what was happening.

“Online. I found Freddy on some website. Can’t remember the name now.”

Cole was stunned. His boyfriend didn’t go to those types of websites for any reason. Just meant Perry wanted to have the threesome and was willing to do it without asking one of their friends. Cole was so happy Perry had found a way to have his fantasy.

About Amanda C. Stone:

Armed with her Batman notebook, fourth grade Amanda C. Stone was ready to start writing stories about unicorns, family members, and her imaginary friends Pink Amanda and Blue Amanda. Today, Amanda is armed with a new notebook, along with a laptop, and a never-ending supply of caffeine. Her stories are about all kinds of things, but the most important aspect is people falling in love.

Where to find Amanda:

Website     Facebook     Twitter     Goodreads     Newsletter     Email: amandastonebooks@gmail.com

 

 

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Spotlight: Tina Donahue and Erotic Takeover

I am welcoming Tina Donahue to my blog today with her newest book EROTIC TAKEOVER, from Ellora’s Cave.

Genre: Erotic romance, BDSM

CONTEST: See Tina Donahue website

To Celebrate the Release of Erotic Takeover, I’m hosting a Rafflecopter contest – WIN 3 erotic romances – 19 choices to choose from in contemporary, menage, suspense, and paranormal

 

BLURB: Erotic Takeover

He’ll unleash her indecent desires…in the most provocative way possible

Working for a celebrated photographer of lush nudes, many with BDSM themes, isn’t easy for Jodi. She’s full-figured, wholesome and longing for Mac, her bad boy boss. His shaggy hair, wicked tat and total hotness make her dream of ditching her work as his assistant to get down on her knees as his eager sub. If he’d only notice her.

Who says he hasn’t? As laid-back as they come, Mac can’t get over how uptight Jodi is around him…like he might bite her. Not what he has in mind. Her guileless nature and voluptuous figure do dangerous things to his self-control.

Lucky for him a client’s request has Jodi finally yielding to her sensual nature, because Mac’s fully prepared to dominate, demanding her submission, delivering punishment. In other words, an erotic takeover.

BUY LINK:  Elloras Cave

R EXCERPT: Erotic Takeover

Mac slung the leather strap over his shoulder and dropped the manacles on a table to the side. The lightweight metal clinked delicately in comparison to the noise of the savage music. Its harsh bass matched his pounding pulse.

He’d done it again. Without even trying, he’d run Jodi off. Every time he caught her watching him, she acted as though he was going to bite her…or maybe fire her. Was she worried about losing her job?

Mac hadn’t a clue. Since he’d been old enough to notice women, their emotions had baffled him. In middle and high school, the girls had liked how he looked and he sure as hell loved how they felt, so they’d hooked up for some good times. When those brief encounters had ended, there were endless recriminations and tears from the girls. Eventually, he’d learned to expect that. Females got pissed about nearly everything. They cried. They also survived to weep another day.

During college, he’d admittedly acted like a dog, mounting every woman who moved. No way would he get married even once or—god forbid—would he repeat his parents’ mistakes by tying the knot more than once. He was simply out for a good time and an education. Again there’d been the breakup fights. His ex-girlfriends always avoided him as they would an STD. But he’d never had a woman behave that way before he’d even touched them.

What was with Jodi? More than once, Mac had sensed her interest, seeing desire in her eyes when he unexpectedly caught her watching him. At first, he’d thought she’d disapproved of him photographing nudes for a living—especially with the added debauchery of BDSM. That notion had died a quick death when he’d noted her flushed cheeks and barely contained excitement.

No different from a few minutes ago.

For a second, she’d surrendered within his gaze, her hazel eyes glistening with arousal. Her lips had parted in seeming anticipation of his tongue or maybe his cock. In that moment, he’d again recognized a kindred spirit. She liked naughty games. She wanted a Dom to punish her for being bad then love her until he’d drained away her doubt, replacing it with wonder and joy.

Mac liked that. He enjoyed her.

Jodi didn’t come on strong like most of the women he knew. Shit, she didn’t come on at all. She sure as hell didn’t worry about her looks, which was a relief. Mac couldn’t count the times he’d tried to have a real conversation with one of the models—discussing the craziness of a current war or the horrors of the latest workplace shooting—only to have her nod absently while she caught glimpses of herself in any reflective surface she could find.

Jodi didn’t do that. She was unbelievably levelheaded and genuine. With her, Mac sensed a man could be himself. He wouldn’t have to put on a show and prove he was more than he could ever be. Imperfect was good enough. Being simply human would suffice. Her quiet manner and intelligence not only comforted, it aroused.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Tina Donahue

I’m an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, and indie. Yay! Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised my work, and trust me, I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve had my books reach finals in the EPIC competition, one title was named Book of the Year at a review site, and others have won awards in RWA-sponsored contests. I’m actually featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Talk about feeling like a freaking star. Before my writing career, I was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. Outside of being an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, I’ve flown a single-engine plane (scary stuff), rewired an old house using an electricity for dummies book, and have been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally whenever I’m eating anything Mexican or Italian. Yeah, I like to eat (burp).

You can check me out here – yes, I am everywhere!

FB Fanpage     Website     Blog     Goodreads     Twitter     Facebook     Triberr     Pinterest     Amazon Author Page     TRR Page 

EC Author Page     Samhain Author Page     Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas     Romance Books 4 Us     Email: tina@tinadonahue.com

The post Spotlight: Tina Donahue and Erotic Takeover appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Love of a Cowboy, Book 2 collection released

Love of a Cowboy, Book 2 – COLLECTION

By Starla Kaye, Melinda Barron, Miranda George, Kira Barcelo, and Misty Malone

Genre: Contemporary western, BDSM, romance

Page Length: 528

 

Five great contemporary Western romances!

Buy Links:  Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Blushing Books

BLURB: So Not a Cowgirl by Starla Kaye

Tanya Montrose was sexually harassed by her former boss and falsely accused of ruining his marriage. Men are seriously on her bad list. Her best friend invites her to Kansas so she can work for her older brother on his ranch. If Tanya didn’t need the job so badly, she’d refuse. The man gives all new meaning to the word “hot.” She doesn’t need that kind of temptation after what she’s gone through. And he doesn’t want her there, even if he does need a good accountant. Plus he tells her that he has a lot of rules and time schedules, and that she will be expected to follow them or face consequences.

Drew Weatherford is worn out from the stress of running a ranch, an animal rescue foundation, and trying to keep up with the books.  Then his sister shows up with her friend and informs him Tanya is the answer to his bookkeeping problems. Maybe so, but she’s more temptation than he wants. She’s the exact opposite of his two ex-wives and so not his type of woman. Really. Not his type. A month. He’ll give her a month.

BLURB: Lily’s Lessons by Melinda Barron

Eleven years ago, Lily was in an accident that killed her mother and seriously injured her. Her father blamed on her and said he never wanted to see her again. Now, Joe Park has become injured in a fall from his horse. He needs Lily’s help around the family’s ranch. At the urging of her sisters, Lily reluctantly comes home to Texas.

She and her father clash, and she soon regrets her decision. She especially regrets it after Chase Hamilton, her father’s foreman, lets her know that her nasty attitude won’t be tolerated. And he has just the right way to correct her behavior.

BLURB: No Laughing Matter by Miranda George

Jaide Templeton was always a prankster, but while home from college on summer break, the jokes intensify. Her parents and the ranch hands are none too happy about her new shenanigans, but she just keeps right on doing them.

Wesley Ford has worked at Templeton’s Alley for years. He’s watched Jaide grow from a teenager to a beautiful young woman. When he unwittingly becomes the butt of one of her jokes, he knows how to punish her for her behavior. By spanking her.

But, when the jokes continue, Wes tries and find out exactly what is wrong with Jaide, and how it can be rectified.

BLURB: Larkin’s Cowboy by Kira Barcelo

When Larkin Gregory arrives at her sister’s house in the (very) small town of Santo Pueblo Texas, her intention is to take a Thanksgiving vacation break from her life in New York and then return to the city to patch things up with her boyfriend Eric. In spite of the fact that Larkin’s sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew are her only remaining close family, she KNOWS she could never live outside the hustle and bustle of New York. She doesn’t think much of small town life.

Then she meets real-life cowboy Adam McLeod, and her perspective changes.

BLURB: Count This Cowboy In by Misty Malone

Trevor is suddenly running a large ranch on his own after the sudden death of his parents in a plane crash. The ranching is not a problem, but he has no clue how to keep the books or run the office and is frustrated when Sam shows up at his door looking for a job as a bookkeeper. She is familiar with his bookkeeping program and when she quickly gets his past due bills paid for him, he hires her on the spot.

She soon comes across a mystery in his books, though, and sets out to investigate. After finally getting her to talk about her past, he hears something that doesn’t sound right to him and hires his old friend, who is now a private detective, and they do some investigating of their own.

The feisty little redhead sure knows how to get under his skin, but she also works her way into his heart.

The post Love of a Cowboy, Book 2 collection released appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Love of a Cowboy, Book 2-collection

Love of a Cowboy, Book 2 – COLLECTION

By Starla Kaye, Melinda Barron, Miranda George, Kira Barcelo, and Misty Malone

Genre: Contemporary western, BDSM, romance

Page Length: 528

Five great contemporary Western romances!

Buy Links:  Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Blushing Books

BLURB: So Not a Cowgirl by Starla Kaye

Tanya Montrose was sexually harassed by her former boss and falsely accused of ruining his marriage. Men are seriously on her bad list. Her best friend invites her to Kansas so she can work for her older brother on his ranch. If Tanya didn’t need the job so badly, she’d refuse. The man gives all new meaning to the word “hot.” She doesn’t need that kind of temptation after what she’s gone through. And he doesn’t want her there, even if he does need a good accountant. Plus he tells her that he has a lot of rules and time schedules, and that she will be expected to follow them or face consequences.

Drew Weatherford is worn out from the stress of running a ranch, an animal rescue foundation, and trying to keep up with the books.  Then his sister shows up with her friend and informs him Tanya is the answer to his bookkeeping problems. Maybe so, but she’s more temptation than he wants. She’s the exact opposite of his two ex-wives and so not his type of woman. Really. Not his type. A month. He’ll give her a month.

BLURB: Lily’s Lessons by Melinda Barron

Eleven years ago, Lily was in an accident that killed her mother and seriously injured her. Her father blamed on her and said he never wanted to see her again. Now, Joe Park has become injured in a fall from his horse. He needs Lily’s help around the family’s ranch. At the urging of her sisters, Lily reluctantly comes home to Texas.

She and her father clash, and she soon regrets her decision. She especially regrets it after Chase Hamilton, her father’s foreman, lets her know that her nasty attitude won’t be tolerated. And he has just the right way to correct her behavior.

BLURB: No Laughing Matter by Miranda George

Jaide Templeton was always a prankster, but while home from college on summer break, the jokes intensify. Her parents and the ranch hands are none too happy about her new shenanigans, but she just keeps right on doing them.

Wesley Ford has worked at Templeton’s Alley for years. He’s watched Jaide grow from a teenager to a beautiful young woman. When he unwittingly becomes the butt of one of her jokes, he knows how to punish her for her behavior. By spanking her.

But, when the jokes continue, Wes tries and find out exactly what is wrong with Jaide, and how it can be rectified.

BLURB: Larkin’s Cowboy by Kira Barcelo

When Larkin Gregory arrives at her sister’s house in the (very) small town of Santo Pueblo Texas, her intention is to take a Thanksgiving vacation break from her life in New York and then return to the city to patch things up with her boyfriend Eric. In spite of the fact that Larkin’s sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew are her only remaining close family, she KNOWS she could never live outside the hustle and bustle of New York. She doesn’t think much of small town life.

Then she meets real-life cowboy Adam McLeod, and her perspective changes.

BLURB: Count This Cowboy In by Misty Malone

Trevor is suddenly running a large ranch on his own after the sudden death of his parents in a plane crash. The ranching is not a problem, but he has no clue how to keep the books or run the office and is frustrated when Sam shows up at his door looking for a job as a bookkeeper. She is familiar with his bookkeeping program and when she quickly gets his past due bills paid for him, he hires her on the spot.

She soon comes across a mystery in his books, though, and sets out to investigate. After finally getting her to talk about her past, he hears something that doesn’t sound right to him and hires his old friend, who is now a private detective, and they do some investigating of their own.

The feisty little redhead sure knows how to get under his skin, but she also works her way into his heart.

The post Love of a Cowboy, Book 2-collection appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Leslie McKelvey and Right Place, Right Time

I am happy to welcome Leslie McKelvey to my blog today with her new book RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, from Black Velvet Seductions.

 

 

 

 

BLURB – Right Place, Right Time

While shooting pictures of a mama bear and her cubs in Rocky Mountain National Park, wildlife photographer Beth Drummond witnesses a murderous shootout and the violent deaths of four men.  When those responsible realize they’ve not only been seen but also photographed they give chase, determined to tie up loose ends.  Praying she can outdistance her pursuers Beth dashes headlong through the woods, intent on nothing but reaching safety.

When Special Agent Bear Bristol, on leave from the FBI, hears gunshots and sees the woman running for her life, he knows he must intervene.  He recognizes those giving chase and realizes that things are much worse than they seem.  A vicious cartel with a mole at the FBI has put a target on Beth’s back, and there is no one they can trust.  Unable to call for backup, Bear must keep Beth safe until they can figure out who the inside man is.

As they struggle to stay one step ahead of both corrupt law enforcement and the killers, they learn to trust one another and realize there is more between them than just friendship born of necessity.  Can they overcome the obstacles they face, or will they win the fight to live only to lose the battle to love?

BUY LINKS:   Amazon-US     Amazon-UK     Barnes & Noble     Lulu     Smashwords     Bookstrand

 

EXCERPT – Right Place, Right Time

Beth Drummond’s lungs burned and her heart raced as flew down the narrow, wooded trail, one hand tightly gripping her camera’s telephoto lens as she tried to shield it from the branches and brambles that ripped at her clothes and left red, angry scratches on her bare arms.  Blood roared in her ears, drowning out even the sounds of her footfalls.  She didn’t think the people who had been shooting at her had just given up and gone home, so she kept running, praying her legs would carry her to the ranger station.  If not, she’d run until she couldn’t or until they caught her.

The trail veered sharply to her left and she skidded to a stop, pressing close to a Rocky Mountain Maple.  She tried to breathe deeply and evenly, struggling to hear anything over the internal whush-whush of her loud, galloping pulse.  Moving slowly she peered around the trunk back up the trail.  Nothing.  But that didn’t mean they weren’t coming.  She was about to start running again when a pair of muscular arms snaked around her from behind and a large hand clamped itself over her mouth.  She inhaled sharply and thrashed about, trying to twist away from him but his grip only tightened, effectively immobilizing her.  She tried to kick, but he’d pinned her legs between his.  A turtle on its back should be so helpless.

“Don’t move.”  The words were a harsh whisper in her ear.  “And don’t scream.”

She went stock still.  The hand was so big it covered nearly her entire face, and the body at her back was male, tall, broad, and hard.  The top of her head just reached his shoulder, and she felt the bunched muscles in his arms and chest as he held her close and tight.  Her throat closed up and her heart beat so hard and fast she thought it would burst, but she did as the stranger commanded.  Without a sound he pulled her away from the tree and backward into a stand of brush.  The thick branches closed around them like a cloak.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie McKelvey has been writing stories since she learned to write. Leslie read her first romance at 12 and was hooked. When her high school Creative Writing teacher told her she needed to be a novelist, she decided to give it a try. Finally, at the ripe old age of…forty-something…her debut novel, Accidental Affair made it into print through Black Velvet Seductions Publishing. Her follow-up novel, the second in the “Accidental Encounters” series, Right Place, Right Time, was released in January 2015. The third and final installment in the series, Her Sister’s Keeper, will follow shortly, and then it will be on to book #4, Runaway Heart.

Leslie is a war-veteran who served with the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War, and she was among the first groups of women to work the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. During her five years of service she was stationed at NAS Miramar (currently Marine Corps Air Station Miramar) and was an F-14 Tomcat plane captain and mechanic. While at Miramar she was sent on detachment to the aircraft carriers USS Independence, USS Ranger, USS Lincoln, and the USS Nimitz. The final two years of her enlistment were spent on Guam and her squadron frequently deployed to Japan and the Middle East.

She learned everything she knows about firearms and tactics from her police officer husband, who is a weapons expert and firearms instructor for one of the most highly-respected law-enforcement agencies in the world (and one he wishes her NOT to disclose). He is her biggest supporter and her unpaid consultant on everything law-enforcement and weapons related. She has three boys, the oldest of whom is a United States Marine (SEMPER FI!). She spends her off-time (kidding…WHAT off-time?) reading, taking pictures, and sending lead down range (that’s shooting, for those who are unfamiliar). One of her favorite scents is the smell of gunpowder in the morning….

AUTHOR LINKS

Blog     Twitter     Goodreads

 

The post Leslie McKelvey and Right Place, Right Time appeared first on Starla Kaye.

Leigh Ellwood and the Sexy to Go, Volume 1

Today I am welcoming Leigh Ellwood to my blog, talking about the Sexy to Go, Volume 1 story collection.

Hello, Leigh Ellwood here, and I’m thrilled to talk you about my involvement with the amazing Sexy To Go authors. Late last year a group of us got together with the plan to produce one collection a month of short, sexy tales that readers could enjoy “on the go.” Want to read hot stories during your lunch break or on the ride home from work? That’s what Sexy To Go is all about – steamy “quickie” romances in a variety of pairings and genres.

This April, our first collection is on sale for 99 cents!

BUY LINKS – Sexy to Go, Volume 1

Amazon     Barnes & Noble     All Romance eBooks

My contribution to the first box set is an extension of a short written for last year’s Sci Spanks event. Skin is a futuristic romp with spanking elements, MF pairing and happy for now ending. No cliffhanger, though the ending might seem left open for future romps. To be honest I won’t rule it out. I had written Skin specifically for the Sci Spanks events and never intended to revisit it, but when Eva Lefoy offered to bring authors together for regular releases of these collections I revisited the story and realized one could have more fun with it.

Though I’ve written M/M stories for Volumes 2 and 3, I haven’t ruled out a follow-up for either 4 or 5.

Each Sexy To Go collection will feature any number of authors. Some may appear in every set, some may take a month off to regroup and write more. Luckily I do have some content to go for a while and I am chiseling away at other projects. I like the idea of a regular series like Sexy To Go because it puts focus on a deadline to meet, a challenge to conquer. A few months I was a bit down, but when I work I don’t have time to let the blues drag me.

If you’d like to read my other stories, visit my site at www.leighellwood.com or follow me on Twitter @LeighEllwood. Once in a while I pimp a story and announce a sale, and I’d love to hear from you there.

Authors in the Sexy to Go, Volume 1 collection:

Jocelyn Dex, Leigh Ellwood, Sofia Grey, Ann Gimpel, Allyson Lindt, Eva Lefoy, Pamela Moran, Nerika Parke, Allie Ritch, Tara Quan, Shiloh Saddler

 

The post Leigh Ellwood and the Sexy to Go, Volume 1 appeared first on Starla Kaye.